Gemma Crowley On Ireland's World Cup Preparations

We catch up with Ireland Women's Team Manager Gemma Crowley who gives us an insight into the squad's preparations for the Women's Rugby World Cup in France this August.

Following her playing career, former Munster and Ireland utility back Gemma Crowley took up the role as Team Manager with the Ireland squad in the 2011/12 season, and was part of the management team that led the Ireland Women to claim the historic Grand Slam title in 2013.

Ireland will begin their World Cup campaign against USA on Friday, 1st August in Marcoussis and also face Kazakhstan and current World Cup champions New Zealand in Group B.

In juggling their work life and training commitments Gemma acknowledges the players' continued dedication to the campaign by sacrificing every week-end as well as a three day week intense training schedule, in their efforts to achieve their goals on the world stage."

"To date we've had four week-ends of camps at Johnston House Hotel in Enfield and have narrowed an original squad of 32 players to a final selection of a 26 player squad, who recently travelled to Barcelona to take on Spain in a warm up friendly.

Weekly Training Schedule

"The players come in on a Saturday morning for two training sessions and take part in a further two sessions on the Sunday also.

"On the weekdays they have three sessions at their own respective centres with a mixture of gym, skills and strength and conditioning work. Once a week there's a combination of integrated skills and conditioning on the pitch where one of the coaches either, Greg McWilliams or Goose (Head Coach Philip Doyle) will travel to each base to oversee the session."

"Ireland take on Wales in their second warm-up friendly on Sunday, 20th July in Malahide, Co. Dublin (kick-off 3pm) which Gemma says will also be an enormous benefit to the squad's continued preparations.

"I suppose the big thing for us will be about tweaking things that need to be improved on following the Spain game and putting them into practice against Wales. It's the last match opportunity for our squad before the World Cup and it's a great chance for the players to prove themselves as they will all be vying for their starting position in the opening game.

"There's no doubt it's going to be a tough encounter. It will be Wales' last warm up game before the World Cup also so we have no doubt they will be giving it everything."

Looking ahead towards Ireland's World Cup fixture against reigning champions New Zealand (Black Ferns) has generated a huge sense of excitement within the squad and Gemma says the players are well up for the challenge.

"It's the first time in history an Ireland Women's team will play the Black Ferns in 15's so it's a massive opportunity. I mean, some of the squad have been competing in international rugby for the last ten to twelve years and it's the first chance they have to play them. You always want to pitch yourself against the best in the world so it's our opportunity to showcase ourselves and the girls are really looking forward to it".

Facing the Haka

"It will be absolutely super. I suppose it's all about composure and ensuring that the occasion doesn't get the better of anybody. That said our squad are well experienced and will keep their feet firmly on the ground. They've played on some big stages like Twickenham and Aviva Stadium so I have no doubt they will be extremely focused on the task in hand.

Off the back of their Grand Slam victory in 2013, Gemma says the squad will be aiming for further international success but will concentrate on one match at a time.

"The 12 best teams in the world are in the World Cup so there's no team that you shouldn't give respect to. 2013 was a really special year for Irish women's rugby and while it was a fantastic occasion - it's very much now about focusing on the future. The players and the management have experienced what success really tastes like and it's just made them even hungrier to drive for more."

TG4 have confirmed they are to broadcast Ireland's pool games live as well as both semi-finals and finals. Ireland's game against New Zealand will be televised live on Sky Sports.

Club rugby makes a return to Markets Field for the first time in 58 years next week with the historic stadium hosting the clash between Young Munster and a Munster President's Select side in the Sporting Limerick Rugby Charity Night.